In brief: Music label's new comms chief, Marriott appoints, WE hires, MBO at FWD

Music label appoints comms chief

BMG, a Berlin-based music company that has 500 staff globally and claims to be the world's fourth-largest music publisher, has appointed a new senior vice-president global corporate comms. Steve Redmond had been a consultant for BMG in the UK and globally since 2012, but now comes on board full-time. He has also consulted for other organisations including the Entertainment Retailers Association, and led trade paper Music Week.

Marriott International appoints Bacchus

Hotel group Marriott International has appointed Bacchus PR as its UK consumer and trade PR agency for five of its luxury lifestyle brands following a competitive pitch process. The five brands are: JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, AC Hotels and Moxy Hotels.

WE Germany's new boss

WE Communications has promoted Bianca Eichner as general manager of its German operations. Eichner had led the firm's Munich office since last year, and joined as a healthcare director from Weber Shandwick in 2014. The firm has also taken on new client Takeda Oncology.

MBO for FWD

FWD Group, which was 106th in PRWeek UK's Top 150 2015, has been acquired by two of its existing directors, Gug Kyriacou and Elliot Lane. The new owners take over the management from founder Michael Gaughan, who remains as a consultant to the business. The firm, founded in 2000 and based in the City of London, specialises in the insurance, financial and professional services sectors. Kyriacou joined the business in 2013, Lane in 2012.

Lexington health chief goes in-house

Jessica Fine, currently director of the UK healthcare practice at Lexington Communications, will leave the firm in April. She will become the UK-based executive director, external affairs, for pharma and healthcare firm MSD, the international brand of US giant Merck & Co. Fine has worked at Lexington for 12 years.

Lexington has given Jo Bullen, currently director of its international health business, charge of the UK role vacated by Fine. Bullen previously worked at APCO, joining Lexington in January 2013. MSD is a Lexington client, alongside others including the UK pharma trade body.

Storm Comms appointed by Bio Collectors

Storm Communications has been appointed by Bio Collectors – which the agency says is London’s largest food waste collector and recycler – to raise awareness of what happens to food waste that can no longer be used, through a corporate and B2B thought leadership programme.